For the third consecutive year, webBikeWorld is reporting live from the 2006 Powersports Dealer Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana.

You'll be the very first to see exclusive
reports on the latest in motorcycle clothing, helmets,
accessories and gear as they are released to the U.S.
motorcycle dealer network for the brand new motorcycle season!

The huge Indiana
Convention Center and RCA Dome are now filled to the
rafters with goodies, and we're taking photos, meeting
all of our friends and seeing what's new for 2006.

The Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo
is the largest, most comprehensive trade show of its
kind in the world for dealers, distributors and
manufacturers of aftermarket powersports products. The
strength, growth and success of the show have earned it
the distinction of being a "Must Attend" event for
dealers across the country and around the world.

25,000 people are expected at this year's Expo
(Note: the finally tally was 21,109).
There were 21,148 attendees in 2005. There are
1,018 exhibitors this year, which is amazing when you
think about it. I hope I can see every one of
them!

By the way, hats off to all the winners of the
Dealernews Top 100 award this year. Special
congratulations to the folks at Blue Moon Cycles in
Norcross, Georgia, who won the Best Vintage Dealer award
and who are well known to webBikeWorld BMW riders!

We're going to post the information a bit differently
this year. We'll create an entire page with larger
sized photos for some of the more interesting
products and for the products that we hope to review at
some future date. The other items
will be described with smaller photos, starting on this page and on additional
pages as necessary, accessible via the links in the right-hand column
of this page.

Let's get started:

This looks like a sure
winner and deserves its own
page: Here's more information on
the very cool looking and brand
new
Shark RSI helmet! Very
different design, very light
weight and has a combined
gloss/matte finish!
UPDATE:
Review now posted!

The makers of the Respro
"Foggy" breath guard have a couple of
interesting new products. On the left
is the "Hump", a backpack cover that's
available in two versions. This
version has some type of glowing blue lights
that run within the silver colored vertical
bars. They switched it on for me in
the dark and it looks very cool.

The lights can be set to stay on all the
time or flash on and off. This would
be the perfect visibility tool for early
morning and late evening commuters.
The product is so new that they're not sure
of the name yet and when it will be
available, but they promised to send one to
us for a review. It's also available
without the blinking lights.

The product on the left has been
available in the UK and is now coming to the
U.S.A. It's a breath mask with a
replaceable charcoal filter. It's
available as the "Bandit", the "Sportsta",
the "Scooter City" and the "Techno".
Each has various levels of filtering, for
dust, fumes, pollen, diesel exhaust, etc.
This should be just the ticket for commuters
and especially for lane splitters!

The Vega Summit has been the
most recommended modular helmet of
webBikeWorld visitors. Now the Vega
Summit II is ready to go, and it's now
manufactured in Vega's very own plant in
China. The entire helmet, liner and
even the sewing is done completely under
Vega's control. It feels light for a
modular helmet and the Vega representative
claims it's something like 150 grams less
than the original Summit.

It has a sharper, sleeker design than the
original Summit and will come with a
removable and washable liner. The
flip-up mechanism is also brand new.
We'll try to get one as soon as possible for
a review.

I'm not much of an off-roader,
so I don't know if this product is unique,
new for 2006 or what. But I thought it
was pretty cool: the Harris "MX Airbag".
It attached to the top handlebar clamp and
I'm guessing that it helps protect the
rider's chin from kissing the metal?
Neat...

Troy Lee Designs, famous for
their helmet graphics, have a display with
clothing, helmets and other goodies.
These pants come in various camo patterns
and are designed for off-road riding.
They also have a line of off-road helmets
with the Troy Lee graphics in various colors
for men and women.

Many webBikeWorld visitors
have requested a review of one of the
Fieldsheer products, and here are two that
look like good candidates. The outfit
on the left is a textile mesh that is
actually a 2007 product that should be
released this summer. I didn't catch
the name. The "Johnny Cool" jacket on
the right appeared to be of very good
quality and it has a very nice removable
zip-out liner that has the Fieldsheer logo
on the front so that it can be worn on the
street. The liner is available as a
reasonably priced option for a couple of
other Fieldsheer mesh jackets new for 2006.
We'll try to get one for a review.

Looking for an engine?
Motorcycle manufacturers don't normally
display their products at the Dealer Expo;
the show is about motorcycle accessories.
But some of the smaller manufacturers do
show up, and although Piaggio can't be
considered small, they're not as well known
in the U.S.A., and they had a display of
Aprilia, Moto Guzzi (the new Griso looks
fantastic in person!) and Vespa.

Here are
two very interesting Piaggio-designed
engines, just waiting for buyers! On
the left, a very small 850cc V-Twin!
It's water cooled and fuel injected.
On the right, a 500cc single cylinder, with
transmission as part of the casting, and
available in two- or four-wheel drive!
Both meet the very tough Euro-3 emissions
standards. Wouldn't it be interesting
to build a bike around the 850cc version?